Five years ago Wasim Jaffer left Trent Bridge uncertain. In India's second Test of their previous tour, he'd endured a double-failure (0 and 5) and unsure of his place for the next match at Headingley. He was eventually left out for Sanjay Bangar, who went on to play a pivotal role in the side's serieslevelling win, and began a period of exile that was to last four years.

Nottingham proved a happier experience for Jaffer this time. His half-century set the base for India's imposing total, and he followed it up with two handy scores against Sri Lanka A in Leicester. Looking back at his previous tour to England, he termed it a life-changing experience and felt he'd "matured" in the intervening period.

"I was four years younger then," he said matter-of-factly when asked the difference between the previous tour and this one. "That tour changed me completely. I learnt quite a lot. I went back to domestic cricket and corrected whatever mistakes I'd made. It made me determined to make a comeback and I'm more mature now."

He was exposed on the previous tour mainly because of his tendency to neither getting forward or back, stuck in a position that cricketers refer to as half-cock. He was in a similar muddle at the start of this tour as well, unable to make a meaningful contribution against Sussex and England Lions, but has looked far more assured in the Tests.

His 58 in the first-innings at Lord's provided a launching pad for the team to build on -- the fact that they didn't is another issue -- and his 62 at Trent Bridge did the same. For a batsman who gorges on domestic attacks once he's settled, he ought to be disappointed with giving it away. His two innings here were classic examples, spooning catches to the infielders while trying to go over the top. As he himself admitted: "I need to convert stats into a big one. We all know how important The Oval Test is and we're in the right frame of mind."

Jaffer was happy that the side had got a chance to play another set of tourists -- Sri Lanka A -- instead of taking on a county. "All the A teams that tour get these games which are very important. If I would have come as an A tour player I would have taken this very seriously. The com-

petition is very strong compared to county cricket."

His half-century allowed India to hold on to a draw in their three-day match, though a late stumble caused a few flutters. "We thought they would set us a rate of 4.5 or five an over and we would have gone for it," he said when asked about Sri Lanka's delayed declaration. "But they set us a higher rate and it was tough. We went for it initially but later had to play out. Yuvraj (Singh) and (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni got out and Rahul (Dravid) was supposed to bat later. But even when he was out the wicket was playing well. Gautam (Gambhir) was batting well and Ramesh (Powar) can bat. So the mood in the dressing-room was okay."